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Biggs: Eagles put excess at wide receiver to use

WR Gibson impressed in summer, became trade bait Brad Biggs

Bookmark and Share Print This Send This October 20, 2009, 06:09 PM EST
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Finally, the Philadelphia Eagles were able to put to use their excess at wide receiver.

The Eagles dealt rookie wideout Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round draft pick in 2010 to the St. Louis Rams for some help in the middle of the defense. Will Witherspoon is the second veteran linebacker the Eagles have acquired in recent weeks after signing Jeremiah Trotter off the street. The plan is to plug Witherspoon in quickly in place of Omar Gaither, who has more or less manned the spot since Stewart Bradley was lost to a knee injury in preseason. Gaither is currently dealing with a foot injury, and is headed to see a specialist.

“We'll put him at the (middle linebacker) spot to start with,” Reid said on a conference call. “It doesn't look like Omar is going to be able to go for a little bit here.

Reid believes Witherspoon’s familiarity with Steve Spagnuolo’s defense in St. Louis will make it an easy transition for him. The veteran also has the ability to play the weak side. he will debut Monday night against Washington.

“He's a three-down linebacker,” Reid said. “He came play both and he's very good at both of them. He's a good cover linebacker. He can cover tight ends and linebackers, which is a plus.”

Gibson, a sixth-round pick, played well during the summer but was inactive for four of the Eagles’ five games.

“Listen, I kept him on, which I normally don’t keep that many wide receivers,” Reid said. “I think that speaks for itself. I think he's going to have a great career in the NFL.”

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PhillyBen
Oct 20, 2009
08:04 PM

Is Gibson going to have an immediate impact in St. Louis given their combination of underperforming/injured receivers? I sure hope so because the kid has a great combination of skills (just look at his junior year in college, MONSTER numbers). I really would have prefered to see Kevin Curtis or Reggie Brown be traded since Gibson resembles a receiver mold that the Eagles don't have on their team anymore with Hank Baskett gone.

Secondly, what happens when Stewart Bradley comes back next year? What does this move mean for Akeem Jordan? Suddenly, the Eagles have TOO many starting linebackers and some tough decisions are going to have to be made.

Pat
Oct 20, 2009
09:46 PM

PhillyBen - This move doesn't create any sort of major decisions - once Bradley comes back next season, Jordan returns to being a back-up LB, which is where he is best suited. I think contrary to what a lot of people believe, Gocong is going to be re-signed on the cheap.

The only real question is who will fill the third spot in LB core.

It will be Withspoon at WILL, Bradley at either MLB/SAM, and a third, who I think is Gocong playing the SAM.

PhillyBen
Oct 21, 2009
01:30 AM

I recognize the move doesn't create any need for an immediate decision. I also think moving Akeem Jordan out of the starting lineup would be a mistake. Gocong was drafted and installed into the lineup under the assumption that he was going to make a sack machine. Well the sack machine has 4 career sacks in 4 years. I think if we take Akeem out of the lineup next season, we will have to replace his speed with Gaither in the SAM position. I like Gocong, but it is him I believe to be one nixed by this move with Akeem Jordan being a passing down LB.

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